Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in talks with Donald Trump to resolve the Ukraine crisis, but has objected to returning any occupied territory. He also made it a condition of negotiations that Ukraine should abandon its desire to join NATO. The British news agency Reuters reported on five sources related to the Kremlin.
Donald Trump is returning to the White House promising a swift end to the war at a time when Russia controls a significant portion of Ukraine. This territory is equal to the US state of Virginia. Russia is now moving faster than it was at the beginning of the 2022 invasion.
How can there be a compromise?
People familiar with the Kremlin's thinking said Putin was ready to hold talks on suspending the conflict along the border to broker a ceasefire. However, there may be room for discussion on the precise demarcation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Note that Moscow claims that these four regions are completely part of Russia, but 70-80 percent of the territory there is under the control of Russian forces. The remaining 26,000 square kilometers are still controlled by Ukrainian forces.
Putin's objections to NATO
Putin said this month that any ceasefire deal must take into account battlefield realities. But he expressed fears that a short-lived pause would allow the West to rearm Ukraine.
If Ukraine is not neutral, it is difficult to imagine a good relationship between Russia and Ukraine, he said. Because it would give Ukraine an opportunity to use it against Russia.
Difficult conditions and complications
Russia could impose conditions such as the suspension of Ukraine's NATO membership as well as limiting the size of the Ukrainian military, subject to adequate security guarantees. But the positions of the two sides are so different and far apart that it will be extremely difficult to reach a permanent compromise agreement.
According to Dmitri Simes, a prominent Russia analyst, while a temporary cease-fire agreement is possible, a long-term agreement to address Ukraine's and Russia's security concerns would be extremely difficult.
Western recognition and Putin's position
Russia currently controls 18 percent of Ukraine's territory. which includes Crimea in its entirety and 80 percent of the Donbass region.
A Russian official said Putin could tout a deal that would guarantee the protection of Russian speakers and essential land access to Crimea.
However, Russian officials said that there will be no discussion on the future of Crimea.
Possible structure of the solution
The Kremlin has signaled that a draft agreement, due to be finalized in April 2022, could be the basis for a solution. It offered a cessation of hostilities in exchange for Ukraine's neutrality and international security guarantees.
But a Russian official said keeping the West free from the threat of direct conflict with Russia through the deal was a major challenge.
